Stage 4 tongue cancer is a condition when the cancer has reached the most severe stage. At this stage, the cancer cells have entered the spread or metastatic phase. Therefore, it is important to recognize the early symptoms of tongue cancer so that treatment steps can be taken immediately.
Tongue cancer is a type of oral cancer, but can also be classified as cancer of the oropharynx (cancer at the back of the mouth). Cancer that grows on the front two-thirds of the tongue and under the tongue is included in the category of oral cancer. Meanwhile, cancer that grows at the base of the tongue is classified as oropharyngeal cancer.
Meanwhile, stage 4 tongue cancer is a condition when cancer cells have grown and spread to other surrounding tissues and organs.
Symptoms of Stage 4 Tongue Cancer
To anticipate the spread of cancer cells to become stage 4 tongue cancer, you need to recognize the symptoms. The common symptoms of tongue cancer are the appearance of white or reddish patches and canker sores on the tongue, gums, tonsils, and the surface of the mouth accompanied by prolonged pain around the mouth.
At an advanced stage, the symptoms and signs that often appear due to tongue cancer are:
- Sore throat that occurs continuously
- Difficulty swallowing and chewing
- The growth of lumps on the tongue, mouth, and neck
- Difficulty moving the tongue and jaw
- Numbness or numbness of the tongue and mouth area
- Bad breath that doesn't go away
- Voice changes to weight loss
- Bleeding on the tongue for no reason
- Pain in the ear
Based on the TNM system classification recommended by American Joint Committee on Cancer, tongue cancer stage 4 is characterized by the size of the cancer getting bigger by about 3-6 cm.
In this condition, cancer cells generally have grown and spread to the soft tissues and organs of the body, starting from the lymph nodes, lungs, skull bones, and surrounding bones.
Treatment of Stage 4 Tongue Cancer You Need to Know
The type of treatment for tongue cancer depends on the location of the cancer, the extent of its spread, and the patient's health condition. Some doctors recommend chemotherapy as the first treatment, followed by chemoradiation (chemo and radiation given together), then surgery if needed.
However, treatment for stage 4 tongue cancer is generally done to cure or control the cancer for as long as possible and relieve symptoms.
Treatment of stage 4 tongue cancer is divided into 2 categories based on the size and spread of the cancer or based on its classification, namely stage 4A and stage 4B tongue cancer.
Tongue cancer stage 4A
In stage 4A tongue cancer that attacks the front of the tongue and has spread and grown in nearby tissues, the treatment that can be done is surgery and radiation. The operation in question is the surgical removal of the lymph nodes in the neck.
As for stage 4A tongue cancer that attacks the base of the tongue, the treatment is in the form of a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy or also called chemoradiation therapy.
Any remaining cancer after this therapy is removed through a surgical procedure. If the cancer has spread to the cervical lymph nodes, surgical removal of the lymph nodes is also performed after chemoradiation therapy.
Tongue cancer stage 4B
Stage 4B tongue cancer is characterized by cancer that has spread to other organs of the body. This condition can be treated with surgery plus radiation therapy and chemotherapy to increase the patient's survival and quality of life.
To prevent tongue cancer, you are advised not to smoke, limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, avoid having oral sex with changing partners, and regularly check your oral health with the dentist every 6 months.
To get more information regarding the stages of tongue cancer and its treatment, you can immediately consult a doctor.
